Small Portable Appliance Testing

PAT inspections are tests of small, portable electrical appliances carried our periodically. Our aim in providing this service is to keep our clients safe in their own home and, therefore, for our clients, there is no charge. We do, however, appreciate a donation to help support our services to the community.

The PAT inspection service is also available to other Third Sector organisations, private homes and small businesses for a fee. Our scale of charges appears below:

Number of Items

Attendance Charge

Cost per Item

1-20

£20

£1.50

21-50

£15

£1.25

50 +

£10

£1.00

The Inspection comprises:

Equipment identification

Visual inspection

Earth bond test (for Class 1 equipment)

Insulation/Leakage test

Polarity Test

Pass/Fail label identification

MHPS may also be able to rectify minor faults by, for example, replacing fuses, plugs or leads for an additional charge.

Are PAT Inspections Necessary?

Business and organisations have a legal responsibility under the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 to maintain electrical equipment that has the potential to cause injury in a safe condition. PAT Inspections are not mandatory but are the generally accepted way to ensure compliance with the law.

It is also possible that your insurance may be adversely affected if PAT inspections have not been carried out. Insurance company’s Risk Consultants usually recommend that PAT inspections are carried out as a ‘Best Practice Risk Improvement’. It can be assumed that the insurance company would take a dim view of any claim arising from a faulty piece of electrical equipment after making such a recommendation.

Portable Appliances comprise such items as: kettles, irons, computers, printers, hair driers, toasters, vacuum cleaners, lamps, electrical hand tools, electric heaters, etc. Not all items with a plug need to be tested or tested every time. MHPS can provide advice based on the frequency and normal use of each appliance.